2026 CSI Summer Conference: Teach Together

This presentation will discuss how artificial intelligence acted as a partner to adapt open educational resources into an interactive teaching tool to design and build a physical, illuminated brain model paired with a custom control box. Online design tools such as Tinkercad were used to refine and customize 3D components.
Throughout the project, AI tools supported problem-solving, debugging, and design decisions rather than automating the work itself. The emphasis of this session is not on the technical build alone, but on the process of learning with AI and open resources. The project demonstrates how AI can help educators interpret documentation, troubleshoot constraints, and remix open materials, lowering barriers while maintaining transparency and ethical use.
This work serves as an example of open pedagogy in practice: reusable designs, modifiable code, and a learning artifact that can be adapted across disciplines such as psychology, neuroscience, engineering, and instructional design. Participants will leave with practical insights into using AI to scaffold project-based learning, strategies for modeling responsible AI use with students, and ideas for incorporating open, hands-on builds into teaching and learning contexts.

In April 2026, the American Political Science Association hosted a 2-day working meeting on the topic of dual enrollment in the discipline. This session intends to share the ongoing work of that APSA group, engage attendees in Prof Gardner's current work to help co-create a "best practices in faculty liaison dual/credit instructor relationships", and inform attendees on APSA teaching and learning resources like APSA Educate.  

What does it truly mean to serve students in a time of political uncertainty, decreased funding, and growing students needs? Drawing on key insights from the 2026 Alliance for Hispanic Serving Institutions Educators (AHSIE) Conference, this session explores how institutions can move beyond enrollment metrics toward a deeply relational model of servingness. Participants will examine how institutional alignment and sustainable practices can transform classrooms. The session highlights innovative examples including student-led discussions, holistic support systems, and humanizing approaches to academic pursuits. Participants will engage with practical strategies such as integrating community cultural wealth into curriculum, building cross-campus collaboration, and solidarity through co-created practices. This session is designed for educators, administrators, and staff seeking to translate the promise of servingness into meaningful sustainable action.